HVCC holds ribbon cutting to officially open its new Science Center

The new chemistry lab is seen Thursday at Hudson Valley Community College's $47.4 million, 100,000-square-foot Science Center
Mike McMahon - The Record,

TROY >> The new Science Center at Hudson Valley Community College became complete when students were finally able to roam its halls and classrooms, observed Prof. Peter Schaefer, the chair of biology, chemistry, and physics. While the building opened at the beginning of the semester in late August, a ceremony officially recognizing the building was held Thursday.“It was a sterile structure,” said Schaefer, who worked for years on planning the center. “It didn’t come to life until the students were in the building. They melded with the building.” The 100,000-square-foot center was constructed to the tune of $47.4 million. About 7,500 students — more than half the students enrolled at HVCC — are studying in the three-story structure that offers classes in 25 different degree programs. Courses in the center include chemistry, biology, physics, biotechnology, and biomanufacturing.The dark edifice, 400 feet long with a mostly glass exterior, has 11 classrooms, a cafe, two lecture halls, a study center, and 25 laboratories. The labs are located on the center’s west side, which also has a corridor for tech services, while classrooms and faculty offices are on the east side. With the western side of the building made up of thermopane and all of the building materials used coming from within 500 miles away.Funding for the project came from a $27.2 million bond resolution from the Rensselaer County Legislature for the science center and associated renovations on campus. The remainder of the funding came from the state of New York through the Dormitory Authority, said HVCC spokesman Dennis Kennedy.This year also marks the 60th anniversary for the Troy college, said president Andrew Matonak, noting that since 2005 the institute had seen a 20 percent increase in science enrollment.With features like a coming greenhouse, automatic lights hopes to receive a high energy efficiency designation. Mosaic Associates of East Greenbush and Payette of Boston designed the building, while Troy’s U.W. Marx managed the construction of the project.Construction began in the summer of 2011 and concluded in time for classes to start this fall. At peak construction periods, there were about 90 to 100 workers at the site.The impetus for the project started with creating a master plan in 2006.“This began as little more than pencil scribbles on draft paper,” said Academic Vice President Carolyn Curtis, adding that now all the science courses will be in one building instead of scattered around campus.Spaces that were formerly used by the sciences on campus are now being used as lecture classroom space and for adjunct faculty and staff offices. Final plans for the rooms in Amstuz, Fitzgibbons, and Brahan are still being determined.The college serves about 13,000 total students and has 1,200 employees, including 900 faculty members.“That’s what this facility is all about — our students,” Curtis said.Freshman Eli Skorupski of Hoosick Falls said he liked his classes in the new building and chose the college due to its price, location and the ability to transfer to other colleges after getting an associate’s degree.Danielle Sanzone may be reached at 270-1292.